adrock1976
Established Member
As per to what I had posted in the "What you would like to see in the next Great Western Franchise" thread, I have had a go at creating a regional timetable with clockface departures (Taktplan). I have gone for simple service pattern and have eliminated the Great Malvern (and other points north of Bristol) to the various destinations via Westbury, including Brighton.
In summary, I have come up with the following service pattern, which I have built around the present Intercity Crosscountry, Temple Meads - London Paddington via Chippenham, and the section of the present timings between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour as I believe those timings cannot be radically altered that much. I have also inserted xx15 and xx45 Intercity departures from Temple Meads to London Paddington via Bristol Parkway, which those services will be starting soon even though the actual timings have yet to be confirmed. Also noted is that I have re-routed the Cardiff - Portsmouth to run direct between Filton Abbey Wood and Bath Spa so as to reduce overcrowding and to make it run to time more reliably, but have introduced a Bristol - Westbury limited stop with that portion coupling/uncoupling with the Cardiff - Portsmouth, thus retaining the direct links. Bristol TM - Cardiff is a regional express shuttle every 30 minutes, therefore maintaining the same frequency as present.
A quick guide is as follows:
Cardiff Central - Bristol TM every 30 minutes (Pilning needs to be sorted properly, with a train every 2 hours calling subject to residential developments and the footbridge being put back)
Taunton - Gloucester via Weston-super-Mare every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Weston-super-Mare - Great Malvern via Gloucester every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Portishead - Severn Beach every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Portishead - Bristol Parkway via Henbury every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour every 60 minutes (Regional Express)
Bristol TM - Westbury Regional Express every 30 minutes, with a train every 60 minutes being coupled/uncoupled to the Cardiff - Portsmouth (the opposite half hour train could be dovetailed onto the London Waterloo services)
Bristol TM - Frome local all stations except Freshford every 60 minutes, with extensions to Weymouth every 2 hours
Bristol TM - Westbury local all stations except Avoncliffe Halt every 60 minutes
Swindon - Salisbury via Melksham local all stations (including Dilton Marsh and re-opened Wilton North) every 60 minutes
Bristol Parkway - Bath Spa every 60 minutes calling Filton Abbey Wood only (this was somewhere to send the via Henbury terminator as I felt that the train could not have a 60 minute layover at Parkway)
While I was designing the timetable, the one thing that is really noticeable is that there seems to be far too many single track sections for a desired 30 minute interval service to run reliably. I am not advocating redoubling Castle Cary - Dorchester West, but would like to see redoubling between Narroways Hill Junction (north of Stapleton Road) and Avonmouth/St Andrew's Road as the only places where trains can pass each other in opposite directions is Clifton Down and Avonmouth. Furthermore, in regards to Portishead, I have the trains passing each other at Pill, as I am unsure if the line from Parson Street Junction to Portbury is double or single track; also, the track from where the line turns towards the docks and Portishead would obviously need to be reinstated.
I have attached the files to this post.
In summary, I have come up with the following service pattern, which I have built around the present Intercity Crosscountry, Temple Meads - London Paddington via Chippenham, and the section of the present timings between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour as I believe those timings cannot be radically altered that much. I have also inserted xx15 and xx45 Intercity departures from Temple Meads to London Paddington via Bristol Parkway, which those services will be starting soon even though the actual timings have yet to be confirmed. Also noted is that I have re-routed the Cardiff - Portsmouth to run direct between Filton Abbey Wood and Bath Spa so as to reduce overcrowding and to make it run to time more reliably, but have introduced a Bristol - Westbury limited stop with that portion coupling/uncoupling with the Cardiff - Portsmouth, thus retaining the direct links. Bristol TM - Cardiff is a regional express shuttle every 30 minutes, therefore maintaining the same frequency as present.
A quick guide is as follows:
Cardiff Central - Bristol TM every 30 minutes (Pilning needs to be sorted properly, with a train every 2 hours calling subject to residential developments and the footbridge being put back)
Taunton - Gloucester via Weston-super-Mare every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Weston-super-Mare - Great Malvern via Gloucester every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Portishead - Severn Beach every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Portishead - Bristol Parkway via Henbury every 60 minutes (local all stations)
Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour every 60 minutes (Regional Express)
Bristol TM - Westbury Regional Express every 30 minutes, with a train every 60 minutes being coupled/uncoupled to the Cardiff - Portsmouth (the opposite half hour train could be dovetailed onto the London Waterloo services)
Bristol TM - Frome local all stations except Freshford every 60 minutes, with extensions to Weymouth every 2 hours
Bristol TM - Westbury local all stations except Avoncliffe Halt every 60 minutes
Swindon - Salisbury via Melksham local all stations (including Dilton Marsh and re-opened Wilton North) every 60 minutes
Bristol Parkway - Bath Spa every 60 minutes calling Filton Abbey Wood only (this was somewhere to send the via Henbury terminator as I felt that the train could not have a 60 minute layover at Parkway)
While I was designing the timetable, the one thing that is really noticeable is that there seems to be far too many single track sections for a desired 30 minute interval service to run reliably. I am not advocating redoubling Castle Cary - Dorchester West, but would like to see redoubling between Narroways Hill Junction (north of Stapleton Road) and Avonmouth/St Andrew's Road as the only places where trains can pass each other in opposite directions is Clifton Down and Avonmouth. Furthermore, in regards to Portishead, I have the trains passing each other at Pill, as I am unsure if the line from Parson Street Junction to Portbury is double or single track; also, the track from where the line turns towards the docks and Portishead would obviously need to be reinstated.
I have attached the files to this post.